Kansas
Houston Texans vs Kansas City Chiefs picks, predictions, odds: Who wins NFL playoff game?

Ravens, Bills put on A+ performance, Commanders stun Bucs
USA TODAY Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon breaks down all the games from Wild Card Weekend.
Sports Seriously
The Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs play on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium in a game on the NFL playoff schedule for the divisional round.
Which team will win the second-round NFL postseason game?
Check out these NFL playoff picks and NFL playoffs prediction for the game, which can be seen at 2:30 p.m. MST on ABC and ESPN (stream with FUBO).
The Chiefs are an 8-point favorite over the Texans in NFL playoff odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Kansas City is -400 on the moneyline, while Houston is +310.
The over/under (point total) is set at 42 points.
Watch Texans at Chiefs live on FUBO (free trial)
Jeremy Cluff writes: “We did not see the Texans beating the Chargers in our predictions last week. We were wrong. Were we ever. Houston dominated Los Angeles, 32-12 in the wild-card round. With that being said, we don’t see the Texans beating the Chiefs this week, either. Will we be wrong again? Kansas City is a big favorite after having the bye week to rest and prepare for Houston. The Chiefs beat the Texans in Kansas City in Week 16, 27-19. We expect a similar result in the divisional round. Patrick Mahomes won’t struggle against the Texans’ defense like Justin Herbert did.”
When do NFL playoff teams play next? Houston Texans | Kansas City Chiefs | Washington Commanders | Detroit Lions | Philadelphia Eagles | Baltimore Ravens | Buffalo Bills
Bookies.com: Bet the Texans with the points vs Chiefs
Bill Speros writes: “The Chiefs went 15-2 without scoring more than 31 points in a game this season. The Chiefs and Texans met less than a month ago in Kansas City. The Chiefs won 27-19 on their way to icing the No. 1 seed in the AFC and what was in all reality a two-week bye. Patrick Mahomes threw for 260 yards, a TD, and ran for another in KC’s win over Houston. He scored on a 15-yard scamper that ended KC’s opening drive. Andy Reid called that win his team’s “most comprehensive win” of the season. They’ll have to repeat it this weekend. The Texans were at 100% in their upset over the hapless Chargers in the Wild Card round. C.J. Stroud was able to balance things with both RB Joe Mixon and WR Nico Collins. The Texans need an early lead and a mistake-free effort to overcome the Chiefs’ magic on the field, and the power of Taylor Swift and the NFL off it. Both teams underperformed on the line. But the Chiefs crushed bettors all year. They went 8-9 ATS and 3-7 ATS in their final 10 games that mattered. The ‘Travis Kelce anytime TD’ was the most-bet player prop throughout the regular season, but he only scored 3 times. Houston gets the cover here, especially with the hook. The Texans moneyline here at +360 would be worth a small play, as well.”
NFL playoff odds: Texans vs Chiefs | Commanders vs Lions | Ravens vs Bills | Divisional-round point spreads, moneylines
The site’s formula predicts that the Chiefs will win the NFL playoff game against the Texans.
ESPN: Chiefs have a 62.4% chance to beat Texans on Saturday
The site gives the Texans a 37.6% shot at winning the NFL playoff game.
Tyler Dragon writes: “The Chiefs defeated Houston 27-19 in Week 16. Kansas City looks primed to be the first team to three-peat as Super Bowl champions. Kansas City is well rested and Andy Reid is historically good after a bye week. Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown’s return to Kansas City’s offense gives the team more firepower. Chris Jones has a significant advantage over Houston’s leaky offensive line. Patrick Mahomes has led the Chiefs to six straight AFC championship games. Mahomes and company are headed to another AFC title contest.”
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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Kansas
1 person shot to death, another injured Thursday afternoon in south Kansas City, Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One person died and another was injured in a shooting Thursday afternoon in south Kansas City, Missouri.
Police found two people, a man and a woman, in the street suffering from gunshot wounds at about 4:10 p.m. in the 11800 block of Winchester Avenue.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman was taken to an area hospital.
An argument between several people led to a fight, and then gunfire, police said.
Police are looking for one suspect and believe this is an isolated incident.
This was the 87th homicide of the year in Kansas City, Missouri, compared with 79 at this time a year ago.
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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.
Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.
Kansas
Check out where Kansas basketball is projected to be in top 25 in these early projections

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self talks new assistant Jacque Vaughn
Check out everything Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had to say Tuesday as he introduced a new assistant, Jacque Vaughn, in Lawrence.
LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball has continued to add to its roster in recent weeks, as the 2025-26 season nears.
Toward the end of June, KU signed a pair of high-caliber players who’ll be freshmen this season. That would be guard Kohl Rosario, and center Paul Mbiya. Both are capable of providing valuable depth for a squad that was very much in need of it and have helped spur momentum for coach Bill Self’s team during the summer.
So, at this point, where do things stand when it comes to Kansas’ potential place in the initial top 25 poll? How favorably do projections view the Jayhawks? Where does KU rank among other Big 12 Conference programs?
Here are some recent projections for where Kansas could start the upcoming season in the top 25:
This projection places Kansas at No. 21, behind fellow Big 12 programs No. 1 Houston, No. 7 BYU, No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 13 Iowa State, and No. 17 Arizona. It’s clear that once again the Jayhawks are going to be dealing with a challenging league slate. Compete well within that, and odds are Self and company will be able to move up much higher than No. 21.
Darryn Peterson’s arrival as one of the most high-profile freshmen in the nation generated a lot of buzz for the Jayhawks and has helped them come in at No. 21 in this projection. With returning sophomore forward Flory Bidunga, the duo has the potential to be one of the best the Big 12 has to offer this season. However, here KU is still behind some Big 12 programs in No. 3 Houston, No. 6 BYU, No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 13 Arizona, and No. 18 Iowa State.
This is the highest projection of the group and sets Kansas at No. 14 — just inside the top 15. Ahead of the Jayhawks, among Big 12 programs, are No. 2 Houston and No. 8 Iowa State. It’s an optimistic outlook for KU, as it looks to bounce back this season after a pair of disappointing finishes across the past two postseasons.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
Kansas
Obituary for Jerry L. Grant at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home

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